Tandem wheel assembly



Nov. 7, 1944. H. HQLLMANN ET AL TANDEM WHEEL ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 24,1945 gin/UWM Hubenl /ellman liam G. YqnI/wr/zid,

Patented Nov. 7, 1944 TANDEM WHEEL ASSEMBLY Hubert Hollmann, Findlay,and William G. Van Voorhis, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to The BuckeyeTraction Ditcher Company, Findlay, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication February 24, 1943, Serial No. 476,926

(Cl. ISU-22) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to tandem wheel mountings particularly adaptedfor use in connection with trenching machines, and an object is toproduce a tandem wheel assembly of this character which can be readilyand conveniently mounted or removed, which is sturdy and reliable inconstruction, which affords new and improved axle supports for thewheels, which is particularly useful in connection with a differentialgear drive and which is provided with the new and improved features ofconstruction and arrangement hereinafter described.

An embodiment of the invention is shown for purposes of illustration onthe accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary sideelevation of a tandem wheel mounting, one of the wheels and a portion ofthe tandem housing being broken away for purposes of clarity; and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a machine frame lIl there being shown a side frame member I I having an upwardly inclinedend portion I2, the rear end of which is secured to an upright elevatorrail I3. It is to be understood that the frame I illustrated, representsthe frame of a trenching machine on the rear end of which is suitablymounted a rotary digging wheel (not shown). At the front end of themachine are the usual steering wheels (not shown).

Suitably fixed to the side frame member II is a horizontally disposedangle bar I4 which is disposed in theregion of the upper end portion ofthe upwardly inclined portion I2 of the side frame member. The angle barI4 is apertured to receive a sleeve I5 which is welded to the angle bar.At the inner end of the sleeve is welded an abutment plate I6. Rigidwith the outer end of the angle bar I4 is a ring I1. Fitting within theaperture of the angle bar I4 and fitting the sleeve I5 and ring I1, is adifferential housing I8 which extends horizontally to the differentialgenerally indicated at I9, the latter deriving its power from alongitudinal drive shaft 28 operatively connected to the power plate(not shown) carried by the machine.

Within the differential housing I8 is a differential shaft 2I suitablymounted in anti-friction bearings 22 disposed adjacent the outer end ofthe differential housing, the shaft `2| projecting outwardly beyond theend of the differential housing. Mounted on the outer endv portion ofthe differential housing I8 is a sleeve or hub 23 of the tandem housing,and interposed between the sleeve 23 and the housing is a bushing 24. Asshown, the tandemhousing 25 is made up of vertically disposed sideplates 2li-and 21 to which are secured upper and lower plates 28 and 29respectively. The upper end of the plate 21 is apertured to receive theouter end portion of the sleeve 23 to which it is welded. From the abovedescription, it will be apparent that the tandem housing 25 can rockabout the differential housing I8.

As indicated in Figure 1, the tandem housing` 25 is generally triangularin shape and the upper portion of the triangle is rockably mounted onthe differential housing. Fixed to the projecting end portion of theshaft 2l and arranged within the tandem housing is a double sprocket 30,one being employed to drive one of the wheels, and the other to drivethe other wheel of the tandem. The sprocket member 30 is held in placeby a lock nut 3l on the outer end of the shaft 2I. It will be apparentthat the diameter of the sprocket member 30 is slightly less than thediameter of the sleeve 23 so that the tandem housing and associatedparts can be readily slipped off from the differential housing I8without disturbing the sprocket member. To afford access to the sprocketmember 30 and associated parts, a plate 32 is secured by bolts 33 to theside 26 of the tandem housing.

An endless chain 34 is trained over one of the sprockets in the sprocketmember 30, and inclines downwardly and rearwardly to a somewhat largersprocket 35. .Trained over the other sprocket of the member 30 is anendless chain.

36 which inclines downwardly and forwardly and engages a somewhat largersprocket 31 at the forward e'nd of the tandem housing 25. The mountingof the sprockets 35 and 31 and their associated axle and wheelassemblies are the same in each instance and it is deemed sufficient todescribe in detail one of these assemblies.

As shown, the sprocket 31 is secured by a series of bolts 38 totheflanged end of a sleeve 39. The sleeve 38 is mounted on a pair oflaterally spaced oppositely tapered roller bearing units 40 and 4I, theinner races of which are secured to a stationary axle 42. As shown, theaxle tapers inwardly from the roller bearing 4U at one end and theopposite end tapers inwardly and fitting the latter end portion is arelatively short sleeve 43 which is welded to a -plate 44. 'Ihe plate 44is secured to the lower edge portion of the inner plate 21 of the tandemhousing by a series of cap screws 45. On the inner end oi' the axle 42is a lock nut 4B and on the outer end is a lock nut 41. Encircling thesleeve 39 on the outer side of the sprocket 31 is a brake adapter 48which is secured to the outer panel 2 8 of the tandem housing by aseries of bolts 49 and to'the outer side of the adapter 48 is bolted abacking plate 50 on which the brake mechanism (not shown) is mounted.

-Fitting over the outer end of the drive sleeve 39 is a wheel hub 5| anda series of bolts 52 secure the wheel hub to the sleeve 39. The hub I isformed with a flange 53 to which the wheels 54 are secured by a seriesof bolts 55. A brake drum 56 is secured in place by the bolts 55. Sincethe brake operating mechanism forms no part of the present invention,detail illustration and description thereof is not considered necessary.Mounted on the wheels 54 are the usual pneumatic tires 51.

From the above description it will be apparent that the sprocket member36 is driven by the shaft 2| .leading from the differential I9 and thechains 34 and 36 drive the sprockets 35 and 31. Each of these lastmentioned sprockets drive the respective drive sleeve 39 to which thewheel hubs are fixed. When the wheels encounter irregularities in theroad surface, the entire tandem unit is free to rock about thedifferential casing I9. As above mentioned, the entire unit can beremoved from the differential shaft 2| by removing the chains `34 and 36by obtaining access to the same by removal of the plate 32 and thereuponthe entire tandem assembly can be slid oil.

The tandem assembly is held against outward lateral movements along thedifferential housing I3 and for this purpose, a brace 58 is fixed at itsu-pper end to a bushing half 69 which is on the under side of thedifferential shaft housing I8. The upper bushing half 6I) engages theupper portion of the housing, these bushing halves being provided withflanges to receive bolts 6| for securing these parts in position. Thebrace 58 inclines downwardly and outwardly and the lower end portion iswelded to a plate 62 which in turn is secured by cap screws 63 to aninwardly extending portion of the tandem housing. Braces 64 similarlyconnect the upper end of the plate 62 with the lower bushing half 69. Itwill be apparent that the bushing halves 69 and 60 abut against theinner side of the bracket plate I6 and thus prevent outward lateralmovement of the tandem housing. In removing the tandem unit, it will beunderstood that the bolts 6I are ilrst removed so that the upper bushinghalf or cap can be first removed.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction,arrangement and operation may be eiected without departing from thespirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A machine of the class described, a main frame, a transverselydisposed operating shaft, a differential for driving said shaft andincluding a housing, a sleeve support forming a part of saiddifferential housing andv enclosing said operating shaft, the endportion of said operating shaft projecting beyond said sleeve support, agenerally triangularly shaped tandem housing mounted for rockingmovement upon said sleeve support and adapted to be slid therefrom,sprocket means fixed for rotation with said operating shaft, the partsbeing so proportioned thatJ the tandem housing `can be slipped from saidsleeve support without removing said sprockety means, detachable meanskembracing said sleeve support and connected t0 said housing forretaining saidA tandem housing in place on said sleeve support butenabling rocking movement of the tandem housing, a pair of axles carriedby and rigid with the lower portions of said tandem housing on oppositesides of said sprocket means, wheel hubs rotatable respectively on saidaxles, sprockets fixed to said wheel hubs, chain connections betweensaid last sprockets and said sprocket means respectively, and wheelscarried by said hubs respectively.

2. A machine of the class described and as claimed in claim 1characterized in that bracket means carried by said main frame carriessaid sleeve support, and said tandem housing being disposed on one sideof said bracket and said detachable retaining means upon the other sideof said bracket.

HUBERT HORMANN. WILLIAM G. VAN VOORH'IS.

